For me, Jamestown was a city to drive through to get somewhere more interesting. Not anymore! Spotlighting the creative processes which elevated comedy to a sophisticated form of entertainment, the National Comedy Center utilizes state-of-the art technology and interactive exhibits to show the ways comedians have enhanced our lives for centuries.

I headed straight to the Carl Reiner exhibit to study his writing processes. But what ended up impacting me most was seeing and hearing about the relationships he maintained with fellow writers, other comedians, and his family over the years. This was most evident when he received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Bette Midler once referred to him as a “sunbeam”; it’s easy to see why. Reiner brought joy to everyone around him, served as a mentor to young people entering the industry, and emphasized collaboration over competition, reminding me that a life without meaningful work, friendship, and laughter is a life half-lived.

Johnny Carson: Immersive Experience, hosted by (drumroll!) Hologram Host Jimmy Fallon. Ann and I were amazed at what a wonderful trip down Memory Lane seeing clips from thirty years of The Tonight Show, and Johnny’s fashionable sport coats, still delivered in 2023.